MY WOMEN ARE ALWAYS VICTORIOUS

The current conversations on power dynamics transcend class, industry, and most traditional confines of ‘society’, especially the #MeToo movement, and I feel deeply affected by those bravely speaking up against sexual harassment and abuses of power. We are in the midst of a major societal shift, one that men too are struggling with: some as aggressors finally facing this day of reckoning, and some as victims who are nervous lately to ask a woman out on a date, naturally for fear of rejection, but mostly for fear of being misunderstood. The fear is compounded by the millennial generation’s reliance on social media and text communication for courtship. With that said, I wanted to spotlight male artists who appreciate women and depict these sentiments as the focus of their art.

Helmut Newton is a photographer I’ve long admired and his book of photography is prominently displayed in my home. In consideration of the #MeToo movement, I began to research his experience and reputation, as a renowned fashion photographer whose work, frankly, objectified women. I found that Newton considered himself to be a feminist and often worked with his wife, an art director and talented photographer in her own right. In “Provocateur”, a documentary film on Newton’s life and work, several models leapt to his defense as a man who loved women. Needless to say, I was relieved and ecstatic.

Similarly, the male artists exhibited in “My women are always victorious” – Jose Maldonado, Andres Maldonado Cortes, and Marcarson – are men who create provocative, sexualized works, with respect for their muses. Without turning a blind eye to an essential societal crusade, it is important to point that out. It is serendipitous that this show coincides with Valentine’s Day, an opportunity for us all to reflect on what love is and encourage men who are feminists.

Andres Maldonado Cortes
Andres Maldonado Cortes (b. 1986) is a Guatemalan born mixed media collage artist whose work consists of the breakdown of popular culture through digital art: deconstructing and manipulating images through the application of texture, creating a depth of feeling in otherwise still popular culture. Maldonado Cortes’s influences include Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock and various fashion editorials.

Jose Maldonado
Lifelong creative Jose Maldonado (b. 1981) moved to the US with his family at the age of 14 and attended the Savannah College of Art, where he discovered his true creative passion: painting. Seeking a change of pace, Maldonado moved to Brooklyn, NY, with his three brothers, fellow creatives, and established an art studio. Along with a few personal murals, he completed an astonishing 50 paintings in that first year alone, and managed to sell enough of his work to finance his next creative journey – an inspiring trip through Central and South America. Maldonado visited Mexico City, Uruguay, and Argentina, before settling for a brief period in Barrio Palermo, Buenos Aires, the location which inspired in his current and most prolific style of painting. Maldonado’s works are an eclectic mix of shape and color, which reflect a tribal influence even in the absence of common themes. His love for the masters of his craft is evident in much of his work, though Jose skillfully manages the difficult task of maintaining complete creative autonomy in both his style and content. Maldonado has been featured by Whitewall Magazine and in local and international press and blogs.

Marcarson
Marcarson, nomme de guerre of visual artist Mark Carson (b.1989), began his career in 2008 under the influence of his admiration for Marc Chagall, after bolting out of his conservative family home in East LA. He studied psychology after high school but quickly found his true calling while exploring the subcultures of Venice Beach, when the nomadic creative found himself drawn to fashion in New York City, where he currently lives and works. Today his mark can be found in both popular and unassuming locations – the striking logo, “freeface”, is a signature emblem representing rebellion. In 2016, Marcarson opened NOT FOR THEM, an art gallery in Long Island City located several blocks from MoMA PS1, which quickly gained recognition among artists and collectors. Marcarson’s work generally explores themes of abstract thought via articulations of the female figure and jazz music.